Nanaimo鈥檚 award-winning, singular youth fiddle ensemble Fiddelium, with special guest ensemble Fiddlejelly, will be returning to the Comox Valley on Saturday Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m. as part of their tenth anniversary Vancouver Island tour.

Fiddelium (pronounced 鈥渇i-DELL-ee-um鈥�), puts on a high-energy, professionally polished show that features traditional and contemporary folk music from around the world. This year鈥檚 concert features tunes from Scotland, Quebec, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, Texas and British Columbia. While it is challenging to fully describe what this group sounds like, you might compare them to Barrage or Bowfire (minus the pyrotechnics).

Fiddelium features seventeen young string players (violin, viola and cello) backed by a rhythm section of piano, guitar and drums/percussion. Fiddelium has represented Vancouver Island on the national stage several times and was awarded the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award in recognition of their outstanding performance skills. They have three full-length albums under their belt and will be recording a fourth album in spring 2025.

The opening act for this concert will be Fiddlejelly, under the direction of Daisy Melville and Cindy Budd. This introductory-level group meets weekly, welcoming fiddlers of all ages. Musicians are encouraged to play without sheet music, upholding the aural tradition of folk fiddling. The Comox Valley has a rich history of fiddle music, and Fiddlejelly was created to help beginner players build their skills so they can eventually join Fiddlejam, the long-running group led by Craig Freeman.

This group of 17 youth will amaze you with their musicianship and stage presence. Come to a Fiddelium show and you will leave as a Fiddelium fan!

Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite: